Paper file



C. E. ATTWOOD PAPER FILE -Filed Deo. 3, 1925 Dec. 10, 1929.

Patented Dec. 10, 1929 *UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES E. ATTWOOD, OF WOLLASTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO POSTINDEX COMPANY, INC., F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F MASSACHU-I SETTS PAPER FILE Application led December 3, 192.5. Serial No. 72,949.

partly broken away, the better to illustratethe supporting frame;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of the file, showing the same opened up to dis.- close the entire sheet and its associated bar;

Fig. Sis a sectional viewon an enlarged scale on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale online 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of one of the sheets unfolded; and 5 Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the interlocking relationship between one of v the sheets and its associated'bar.

Referring to the drawings and to the embodiment of the invention which is selectedfor exemplication, there is shown a le comprising a series of overlapping sheets 7 associated with bars 8, which are supported by an appropriate support, herein a frame comprising a sheet of metal 9, having opposite i edges bent toward each other to form flanges 10, and to present channels Vl1 constituting "guides in which the terminalportions of the bars are received and arejsusceptible of adjustment lengthwise of the guides.

Herein, the bars are flexible, tothe end that they may conveniently be sprung into and out of the channels by simply flexing the bars. One appropriate material for the bars, and the one which I prefer to employ, is sheet fiber,lwhich is light and inexpensive, and when a properly selected stock is used, the bar is of ample durability. The width of the bar will naturally correspond to the desired degree of overlap of the sheets. Sliding' movement of the bars in one direction in their channels is conveniently prevented by squeezing the Hanges 10 against the back of the frame, as at l2, and sliding movement in the opposite direction is prevented by simplyV squeezing the flanges at 13 to present stops. Referring to Fig. 5, each sheet presents two leaves 14 and l5, one of which, in the present example the leaf l5, is longer than the other, and it is this leaf which is intended to receive the name, number, oriother identifying matter, for the purpose of indexing the lille. Between the two leaves, there is an intervening base portion 16, which .is interposed between its associated bar and the support9, as best shown in Fig. 4. Adjacent this base portion, the sheet presents two oppositelydisposed notches 17, which, as well illustrated in Fig. 6, receive the associated bar, and in this way, thesheetand its bar are interlocked with each other, yet without beingr fastened together. Nhen the sheet and .the barV are assembled with each other and with their support, accidental detachment of the sheet from, or 75 displacement of the same with relation to, its bar is impossible, and the desired overlap is accurately maintained, yet when one of the bars is removed from the channels, the associated sheet is entirely detached from the so bar', and can be placed in a typewriter. The

-removal and replacement of the sheet can be accomplished, and the sheets can be arranged and rearranged, and interchanged vwith one another, with great facility. The mere assembling of the bar with its sheet, and inserting the same in place in the support,` will naturally crease the sheet along the sides of the bar, and the sheet can thus be folded into its normal position; but in the present example, each sheet is scored along two parallel lines 18, spaced'apart a distance correspondingto the width of the associated bar, and the sheet is also scored along other parallel lines 19, spaced from the firstinentioned lines a distance corresponding to the thickness of the associated bar. This scoring is preferred, because the sheet being weakened along these lines is thus rendered separate, interchangeable bars,.a support presenting guidesfby'which said barsare removmore flexible, and accommodates itself to the bar better than a sheet which is not scored.

It should be observed that the bars have no contact with one another, inasmuch as portions of the sheets .are interposed between their adjacent edges. The sheets are thus pinched between adjacent edges of the bars, and this tends to preserve uniformity of `alignmentand of voverlap of the sheets.k It

should also be noted that lthe bars present no spacing means, and that none are needed. In other words, the bar may be, and herein is, uniform in width from end to end. .Its vthickness is quite substantial,so much so, that there is no danger of one bar slipping over the the other, ,especially as the .bars are snugly .fitted into their channels, and because the notches in theedges of the sheets serve to yprevent any tendency offfthe barsto ride over one another.

Having thus described one embodiment of .the invention, -but without limiting vmyself thereto, 'what Izclaim and desire by Letters.

Patent to secure is: u I .1. .In a file, the combination of la series of ablyand slidably supported,.and a series of overlapping sheets having interlocking engagement withsaid bars, respectively, each sheet being folded .to present two leaves and yan .intermediate vbase .portion disposed be- .tween its associated bar and said support,

4eachzsheet being separately removable by removing its bar from said support.

VY2. In a file, the combination of a series of bars, a support vhaving channels ywhich -receive Athe ends ofvsaid bars, and a series of overlapping sheets yassociated with said bars, respectively, each sheet being folded to present .two leavesand an intermediate'base portion, .each sheet presenting two openings which receive its associated bar and each sheet having its .base iportiondisposed between its l.associated bar and said support.

.3. In aiile, thecombination-of a series of flexible bars, a support presenting guides in which the terminals of said bars are received and are susceptibleo'fadjustment lengthwise of said guides,.and aseries of overlapping sheets associated with said'bars, respectively, each Vsheet being folded to present two leaves having marginal portions extending in the saine direction, and anintermediate'base portion disposed between-its associatedbar land said support, each-sheet having means, other 1 than -its folds, interlocking with its associated bain 4. Inra liile, the combination of aseries -of independent barsya support having channels with which `said bars `are independently engageable and slidable lengthwise of said channels, and a series of overlapping sheets associated with saidbars, respectively, each sheet being folded to present two leaves having marginal portions extending in the same direction, and an intermediate base portion, each sheet being interlocked with its associated bar and attached to said support only by said bar.

5. In a lile, the combination of a series of independent bars, a support with which said bars are independently engageable, vand a series of overlapping sheets :interlocking with said bars, respectively, wveaoh sheet being scored along parallel lines to presenta base portion and two leaves, one overlying the other and extending in the same direction, the

ubase portion of each sheet being interposed between its associated bar and said support.

6. In a file, the combination of a series of bars, a support for said bars, and a series of overlapping folded sheets associated with said bars, respectively, each sheet being scored along parallel lines to present a base portion'.

and two leaves, one overlying the other, the base portion of each sheet being interposed between its associated bar and said support, and each sheet lpresenting two notches in its lateral edges between said lines, said notches.

receiving athe bar which is vassociated `with such sheet.

7 In a lfile, theV combination ofa series of overlapping sheets, each folded along paral- .lelilines to present two leaves andan interven-Y ing base portion, a series of bars extending lengthwise of said base portions, respectively, each bar being disposed between the said parallel lines of its associated sheet and loosely related thereto, and means detachably re-` ceiving the ends of said bars, each sheet being removable from its associated bar for insertion in a typewriter, .after Yone or lboth ends of such bar have been removed from nsaid means.

8. In a file, the combination of va series of oppositely disposed notches between said lines.

l0. An index element comprising a sheet of paper scored along parallel lines and presenting oppositely disposed notches between said lines.

11. An index element comprising a sheet of paper scored along four parallel lines and lpresenting oppositelydi'sposed notches 4between two of said lines.

12. An index element comprising a sheet of paper folded to present two leaves of unequal length, and a base portion between said leaves, said sheet presenting oppositely disposed notches at the ends of said base portion. 13. In a file, the combination of a support, a series of sheets each having two openings, said sheets having base portions and overlapping portions hingedly connected with said base portions, and a series of independent, interchangeable, flexible, flat, sheet-carrying bars disposed latwise against said base portions, respectively, eachbar being received in the openings of its associated sheet and having its ends supported by said support.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES E. ATTWOOD. 

